Article 50 as it happened: Merkel scuppers May's Brexit strategy within hours of Article 50 being triggered
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Your support makes all the difference.Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog. Theresa May has formally triggered Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and started the countdown on Britain’s two-year exit from the European Union.
Here are the latest updates:
- Merkel derails May's Brexit plan
- Donald Tusk to UK: 'We miss you already'
- Read Theresa May's full Article 50 letter to the EU
- Article 50 triggered
- Read Theresa May's full Brexit statement to the Commons
- Leaked EU response to Britain's Article 50 letter
- What will happen to the economy?
- Latest updates on the pound
Welcome to The Independent’s liveblog as Theresa May prepares to formally trigger Article 50 of the Lisbon Treaty and start the countdown on Britain’s two-year exit from the European Union.
Just after 4.30pm on Tuesday, Ms May signed the historic 6-page document in the Cabinet room of Downing Street below the portrait of Sir Robert Walpole – the first Prime Minister. Later today she will deliver a statement in the Commons on the Government’s negotiating strategy as well as facing Jeremy Corbyn, the Labour leader, during the weekly session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).
Around the same time, Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s representative to the EU, will deliver the Prime Minister’s Article 50 letter to Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, who will then make a brief statement.
The Prime Minister is expected to emphasise her “fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country” and call for people to unite after the divisive and bitter referendum campaign last year.
As she prepares to invoke Article 50 and begin an arduous two-year negation to sever ties with Brussels, she added: “When I sit around the negotiating table in the months ahead, I will represent every person in the whole United Kingdom – young and old, rich and poor, city, town, country and all the villages and hamlets in between,”
“And yes, those EU nationals who have made this country their home. It is my fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country.”
She said her guiding principles would be ensuring the UK was stronger and fairer than it is today.
Prime Minister Theresa May also paid tribute to the four victims of the Westminster attack at the start of Prime Minister's Questions.
She said: "Since my statement on Thursday, the names of those who died have been released.
"They were Aysha Frade, Kurt Cochran, Leslie Rhodes and of course, Pc Keith Palmer.
"I am sure members across the House will join me in offering our deepest condolences to their friends and families.
"The police and security services' investigation continues and two people have now been arrested and remain in custody."
Dozens of people were injured when the attacker drove his car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge before running into the Houses of Parliament where he was shot by armed police.
Britain has officially launched the Brexit process, triggering Article 50 and starting a two-year countdown before the country drops out of the European Union.
The historic moment came as a letter signed by Prime Minister Theresa May was delivered to the Brussels office of European Council President Donald Tusk, notifying him of the UK’s intention to leave.
At the same time in the House of Commons, Ms May was telling MPs it is her “fierce determination to get the right deal for every single person in this country” as the period of negotiations begins.
The 27 EU member states and the UK will now begin an arduous process of negotiation to decide how they can disentangle their existing relations, while Ms May must push a complex legislative programme through Parliament.
Statement from Theresa May on Article 50
Today the Government acts on the democratic will of the British people, she says. "The Article 50 process is now underway. This is an historic moment from which there can be no turning back."
"Britain is leaving the EU," she adds. May says moments like these - great turning points - define the character of the nation.
"We can look forward with optimism and hope and the enduring spirit of Britain"
As news filtered through to the Commons about Article 50 being triggered, Mrs May said: "Now is the time for us to come together, to be united across this House and across this country to ensure that we work for the best possible deal for the UK and the best possible future for us all."
"It is a plan for a new, deep, special partnership" between the UK and the EU, says May. "While we are leaving the institutions of the EU, we are not leaving Europe.
She says she is ambitious for Britain - "we will deliver certainty wherever possible... it is why tomorrow we will publish a white paper... the Government will put the final deal to a vote in both houses of parliament"
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